In its fourteenth season, the Armed With a Camera (AWC) Fellowship for Emerging Media Artists nurtures the next generation of Asian Pacific American media artists to capture their world, surroundings and outlook on life. Visual Communications works with the Fellows for seven months and provides special training, mentoring and networking opportunities, access to facilities and equipment, plus a cash stipend to create four to five-minute digital shorts that premiere at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and other venues nationwide.

Visual Communications (VC) seeks to cultivate a new generation of Asian Pacific American media artists committed to preserving the legacy and vision of VC. The Armed With a Camera Fellowship will award up to ten fellows a cash stipend to complete a four to five-minute digital video. Through the Armed With a Camera Fellowship, emerging media artists will capture their world, surroundings and outlook on life as a part of a new generation of Asian Pacific Americans. A special program will showcase all completed projects at various VC exhibitions across the city of Los Angeles, including the 2016 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and other venues nationwide. VC will co-own the productions and will also package and distribute completed works. Distribution income will aid in the continuation of the Armed with a Camera Fellowship. See a list of past AWC alumni and select video works.

HOW TO APPLY

Submissions for the 2015-2016 Armed With A Camera Fellowship are now open. Deadline for submissions for the 2016 cycle is October 2, 2015 at 5:00 PM PDT.

Applicant Eligibility Eligible applicants must be of Asian Pacific descent and residents of Southern California. If accepted, Fellows must be able to attend mandatory meetings and workshops in Los Angeles. Women, South Asian and Southeast Asian filmmakers are highly encouraged to apply to the AWC Fellowship. If you’re not sure of your eligibility, please contact Visual Communications.

Project Criteria

All projects must conform to the following guidelines:

• Final piece must be a new, original work • Final piece must be shot in digital video format • Total length of final piece must be four to five minutes • If budget for each project exceeds $2,000, you must show/explain other sources of funding • Animation, documentary and experimental pieces are encouraged.

Fellowship Selection Process Up to ten artists will be selected based on their demonstrated commitment to the arts, production and exhibition experience, and the quality of their sample work. Consideration will be given to communities that have been underserved and underrepresented in the media arts. A review panel composed of community members, media artists, and curators will judge the work based on artistic innovation, feasibility within the timeline, and budget of their proposed projects. Applicants will be contacted by the first week of November 2015.

How to Apply Please send the following:

• Information Cover Sheet (Click Here to download) • Letter of intent, one page maximum, on how you think you can benefit from the AWC Fellowship • Resume and digital headshot (300 dpi, 5×7) • Project Treatment (2 page maximum) • Project Timeline (All projects must begin in November 2015 and must be completed by March 11, 2016) • Budget (if proposed budget exceeds $2,000, you must show/explain other sources of funding; budget items may include artist stipend, equipment, supplies, location fee, food, etc.) • Sample work no longer than five minutes; online link is acceptable Email to: milton@vconline.org

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